The Chicago Blackhawks are holding their breath on Sunday night as captain Jonathan Toews suffered what looked like a shoulder injury following a hard hit by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik on Sunday.

The Blackhawks updated that Toews won’t return, labeling it an upper-body injury.

Just got word from the team: Jonathan Toews (upper body) will not return tonight.

Here is video of the hit, along with analysis from Keith Jones and Mike Milbury (the latter of whom doesn’t feel good about Orpik’s actions).

With Patrick Kane currently sidelined (and potentially rusty heading into the playoffs) and Marian Hossa also dealing with injuries on and off this season, it’s reasonable to wonder how healthy Chicago may be heading into the 2014 postseason. We’ll see if this ends up being better than it looks, though.

I’m just going to assume you’re drunk or a massive homer or being facetious.

Anyway, after watching the replay something like 6 times I can’t tell if Orpik left his feet prior to contact (which would make it charging). The hit itself was a devastating (and admittedly awesome, which makes me want to puke because I hate the Pens) shoulder blast.

Hard but clean hit. Anyone who says different has an agenda. Hope Toews is back in action soon.

rrsm53 - Mar 31, 2014 at 7:27 AM

you need to have a eye exam real fast.

laxnhockey - Mar 31, 2014 at 9:52 AM

You are right of course. It’s hockey, hockey is a contact sport that includes checking. That was a great check. I’m not a Pens fan or a Hawks fan, but that is good hockey.

The problem is NBC continues to roll out the ultimate idiot Mike Milbury. How can they continue to have that moron on their broadcasts, particularly when he makes baseless and just plain stupid comments like suggest Orpik intentionally injured Toews or anyone else he targets for a check! Someone should drill Milbury right between the eyes.

skeeterbarnes - Mar 31, 2014 at 1:28 PM

with a shoe

esracerx46 - Mar 30, 2014 at 9:39 PM

In my biased opinion I think it should have been a penalty. It reminds me of the hit Gryba put on Eller. Both hits got some body, but also got quite a bit of head. Also, in this case, it appears Orpik left his feet just prior to contact, or at least simultaneous to contact.

With Toews being injured I think a suspension is forthcoming.

c9castine - Mar 30, 2014 at 9:43 PM

respect your opinion but one thing his feet did not leave ice. remember he is taking contact too that will jar you up a little bit . his right foot came up because he actually chose not to drive him.

esracerx46 - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:00 PM

Appreciate you not being a dick about it. To me, it looked like his left foot was off the ice immediately prior to contact.

I like how the Hawks haven’t done anything stupid as far as retribution. Shaw took a run at Orpik in the second and got more of Sharp in the process.

laxnhockey - Mar 31, 2014 at 9:54 AM

It’s hard to respect an admittedly biased opinion. His “feet” didn’t leave the ice. One foot might have, at the point of impact, but CLEARLY his “feet” did not leave the ice prior to contact. I’m just amazed the refs got it right.

esracerx46 - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:04 PM

And just to clarify, I thought a penalty should have been called. Even though I said a suspension is forthcoming; I didn’t say it was warranted.

Would not be the first time an unwarranted suspension would be handed down (or the first time a warranted suspension was withheld).

Welcome to the Wheel of Punishment.

penswin1 - Mar 30, 2014 at 11:02 PM

Mike Milbury the coward who’s most famous hit was when he decked a 12 year old boy with a cheap shot after a youth hockey game wants to mouth off about the behavior of Brooks Orpik? Really? Milbury you are a coward in every sense of the word. You should be in jail for assaulting the 12 year old boy.

rrsm53 - Mar 31, 2014 at 7:30 AM

another penguin troll who never see’s anything his lousy pens do as a penalty. Get your facts straight on the incident with the 12 year old you tool. Always more to the story than what you read in print that is what happen in that incident. Pens s**k.

chanceoffleury - Mar 31, 2014 at 8:50 AM

rrsm53, maybe I’m alone on this but I disagree. I’m not against using physical repercussion with your own children when they are way out of line. But that’s the thing, they should always be *your* children. My own father is around Milbury’s size and I can’t even imagine a situation where it would be justified for him to do anything that could even loosely be described as “berating or physically assaulting” a 12 year old on a peewee hockey team. You take it up with his parents or coach or the head of the league. In other words, you be an adult and set the right example.

joey4id - Mar 30, 2014 at 11:48 PM

So, it’s illegal to hit a guy shoulder to shoulder. Get your criticism for the decision not to suspend 44. What a joke the league will be if Orpik is suspended.

killerpgh - Mar 30, 2014 at 9:39 PM

Great hit. Possible very bad outcome.

muckleflugga - Mar 30, 2014 at 9:41 PM

so how long did it take ems to get brooks onto a backboard and into a neckbrace

jitterbug jill

rrsm53 - Mar 31, 2014 at 7:31 AM

not long enough, he didnt learn from it did he, like that incident he goes head hunting again and then wont back up anything because he has no f’n balls……………………..

The injury to Toews was his shoulder, not his head. Want to know why? Because he got hit in the shoulder, not the head. May have been contact with the head, but surely wasn’t the focal point of the hit.

I don’t blame anyone on any other team for not appreciating Orpik’s hits…any more than Pronger’s, or Rinaldo’s, etc. I actually don’t appreciate the hypocrisy, but I have been known to be hypocritical myself when it comes to hockey.

But saying Orpik needs to 1) not hit, for fear of being jumped from behind from a gutless thug, or 2) fight any time he hits someone clean, is kind of stupid.

He’s a hitter – he hits. It’s clean – it’s part of hockey. It’s why people don’t go in to his corner with their head down like that. Fighting is illegal in hockey. No one wants to look like Shawn Thornton – not just for your entertainment.

milbury is a hater….I would like to pound his Crosby hating face in..i am 5 ft six 190 and 49 years old……….I challenge milbury to a fight…any time any place…only he could refer to Thortons attack on orpik as a pop in the head,,,how can NBC continue to let this guy be so ridiculously bias toward the Pens…still bitter bout the Cam Neely hit I guess….refuse to capitalize that panzee”s name….We have seen Crosby, Malkin , and Letang hurt on much cheaper more devastating hits….Hey milbury, how bout Brooks’ forgiving Thorton….class act he is…..unlike that panzee milbury

esracerx46 get out of here with that garbage. The only head contact was when Toews bounces off the boards and hits his face on Orpik’s thigh/butt.

stakex - Mar 30, 2014 at 9:52 PM

Go watch the full replay on NHL.com…. from the front view you can see that Orpik’s shoulder makes significant contact with Toews head, and even the announcers during the game pointed it out. If you don’t see it, you are willfully blind.

I am watching the game. No reason to go to NHL.com and watch it. The announcers did not say he hit him in the head. They said Orpik let up on the head and hit him clean.

It’s not about being willfully blind. It’s just because I have a different view then Blackhawks fans. Who openly say their comments are biased. Toews being the world class player that he is, should know to keep him head up. He even admired his pass slide along the boards. The problem with star players is they think they are untouchable. You see great leaders in the league like Thornton, Bergeron, Oshie and many others keep their heads up. They don’t skate around without a worry in the world. They play the game smart.

yeah he may have hit his head as followed thru with the check as Toews was going down. Clean hard hit

esracerx46 - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:16 PM

Their is a button to reply directly to my comment. You can hide behind the internet, but there’s no need to hide deep in the comments section. All I’m gonna do is call out your stupidity, much like you tried to do mine. Besides, stakex pretty much said all that needs to be said.

Gee, Milbury dissing on the Pens in between periods. When are they going to reprimand HIM for being STUPID? Brooks Orpik hits to injure. Right. That’s like saying Mike Milbury speaks to sound intelligent.

First, learn English. Wouldn’t HAVE. Could’ve, would’ve….they’re called contractions – combining the words ‘could have’ or ‘should have’
I know Detroit’s public schools are an embarrassment, but geez man….
Secondly, contrary to your biased beliefs, Sid actually does make mistakes. He’ll get popped with his head down too at some point. Nobody’s perfect.

“First, learn English. Wouldn’t have. Could’ve, would’ve….they’re called contraction – combining the words ‘could have’ or ‘should have’ ” is actually incorrect, not one is a complete or accurate sentence. Also it is only 3 … After a sentence not 4. Not to mention you forgot a space after your…., and never even finished your last douche bag sentence. But hey last I remember this was a hockey blog, I didn’t know I had to worry about my grammar. But coming from a blackhawk fan it doesn’t surprise me. Glad to see you can finally fill the United center you fairweather turd.

I don’t even like Sid, but that is because the man is skilled unlike camel toews. You are not going to win this argument or pissing match with your asinine remarks. We may be dumb in Detroit, but at least we are not a bunch of Nancys.

whammy71 - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:03 PM

Why should someone have to fight once they deliver a clean legal hit?

Moop - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:27 PM

It’s not a question of “should” they have to fight after delivering a hard hit, whether it be clean or dirty. That’s just how the game is played right now. I don’t care how you feel about the topic; there seems to be an understanding amongst most players in the NHL that if you’re going to hit hard, you’re going to be asked to drop the gloves. Regardless of how you feel about Orpik’s hits, he does not fight when opposing players want to stand up for injured teammates. And it’s not like these guys are going to stop, watch the replay, and decide if it was a dirty hit before attempting retaliation. In the heat of the moment, they’re just trying to protect their teammates. Because of this, one simply can’t play a hard hitting game right now in the NHL and then act surprised when someone wants to fight. Again, it’s not really about what someone “should” have to answer for. This is the culture of the NHL right now.

Of course Penguins fans would be upset, you never want to lose your star player and the face of your organization. It sucks that Toews got injured on that hit, you never want to see a star player get injured it’s not good for the league. As for Orpik you are correct his not a fighter, but that doesn’t mean they couldnt have picked a fight with Engelland or Glass.

Sid has to jump out of the way of at least four of those hits, every game. Toews normally does too. He spent a bit too long fumbling with his head down, and it’s Orpik’s job to take advantage of that. He doesn’t skate around looking for people to hit, he defends his zone with legal physical violence. Thornton attacks people with illegal physical violence. The Hawks picked up their physical play after the hit. Nothing more was needed.

Hopefully Toews isn’t out long, he’ll be fine.

stakex - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:03 PM

The GIF from The Pensblog posted in the story shows the most friendly view of the hit. The front replay, which can be viewed on the NHL website, shows a much different perspective on the hit.

An overly dirty hit? No, but there is head contact…. and head contact is a no no in the modern NHL. If this hit was on Crosby, all the Pens fans defending Orpik would be having a heart attack screaming for a 10 game suspension right now. I wouldn’t make any prediction on the NHL taking acting considering how schizophrenic NHL discipline is, but it would be surprising if the league doesn’t at least take a good long look at this hit.

To be clear, I have no problem with hits like this. If you sit there and admire a pass…. this should be the punishment. However that’s not the way the NHL is anymore.

killerpgh - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:24 PM

Head contact isn’t illegal. It’s when the head is the principle point of contact that it becomes the issue. Judging by Toews shoulder/arm injury I thinks anyone most can tell where the principle point of contact was.

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

It’s so tiring to hear the hypocritical whining about how “if this was Crosby” blah blah blah. Crosby’s been knocked out for a season and a half, no penalties, no suspensions, no whining from Pens fans. Crosby is put on his butt game after game. He’s a target – especially when playing hitting teams. Toews doesn’t normally make the play he did, and he paid for it. This is a professional league, not pee wee, not bantam…Orpik just did his job.

comeonnowguys - Mar 31, 2014 at 9:21 AM

I don’t think it should have been a penalty, but I just want to highlight a key part of your comment.

If this hit was on Crosby, all the Pens fans defending Orpik would be having a heart attack screaming for a 10 game suspension right now.

No doubt, you would think he’s had the concussion history that Sid has. These nutty Pens fans who make delusional comments that “Crosby would never put himself in that position” seem to forget how many games he’s missed because he put himself in that position.

The Penguins Organization is one of the classiest (presume you meant classless and not that they don’t attend class?) in the league. Though you likely skipped class, because you haven’t done your homework.

chanceoffleury - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:11 PM

Orpik might lose an entire 30 seconds of sleep after those Milburry comments. I hope the Pens line somebody up to help him deal with the emotional effects of the criticism. It’s really unlike Milburry to say something like that.

Especially when you watch it at full speed, you can see him let up a little before the hit. It was an unfortunate accident, especially if Toews has a separated shoulder or something that hangs him up for the rest of the season. But it was just that, an accident. It looks worse in slow motion, in my opinion.

chanceoffleury - Mar 30, 2014 at 10:44 PM

I’ll clarify as well that by “accident” I mean the *result* of the hit was obviously an accident. I think it’s clear the hit itself was fully intended to be a hard, legal shoulder check. I’d be surprised if Bollig or Shaw saw that opportunity and passed on laying the same type of check on Crosby.

Left his feet and hit him in head. Exactly what league wants to get rid of. Penguin apologists trying to get out in front of it are on denial. As for Crosby not putting himself in that position. That arrogance will do nothing for the reality that no player is above the reality of injury. Especially a fragile kid who is one hit away from retirement but continues to whine his way into opponents cross hairs.

one would have thought toews would have heard the jingling and jangling of orpik’s knuckle wheels on the way in [ installed to cut down on glove wear-and-tear from dragging around the ice while impersonating advanced life form ]

we can’t have skill players flowering and advancing the game in gary’s and shanny’s nhl … wait until crosby gets slaughtered in the land of goes around comes around … then the crying can begin in earnest

i’m left wondering where anyone regardless of yellow stripe came to the understanding delivering crushing injury inducing hits belong in hockey

I’m a Bruins fan, I don’t like the Penguins, I don’t like Orpik: the hit is borderline at best but closer to clean than dirty. These are the types of players Orpik preys on. Toews has got to keep his head up in that situation. If you’re going into the corner puck watching then you’re probably in trouble.

blackhawksdynasty - Mar 30, 2014 at 11:04 PM

Sorry Hawks fans, I just don’t see anything dirty about that hit. Should Orpik ease up on the check knowing the opposing player is vulnerable? … I guess that’s up for debate.

I hate seeing our star players hurt, but Toews needs to keep his head up there – something he’s normally very good at.

As a Hawks fan, I’m more concerned about the way they’ve played for the last 3 months. Aside from a few real dominant games, they’ve looked like they’re just coasting….no real determination or work ethic.

I think the Hawks are capable of beating any team in a 7 game series – if they play their best hockey.

If Chicago doesn’t wake up real soon and play their game, it’ll be an early end to the season – with or without their captain.

blackhawksdynasty - Mar 30, 2014 at 11:15 PM

And to all the Milbury haters – are you really surprised by his ranting and calling for retribution? Come on now, we’ve seen this so many times already. Just change the channel during intermissions. Tonight’s intermission entertainment was duck dynasty reruns! Easily more entertaining and informative than anything Milbury can offer!

Considering the hit was by Orpik, it’s debatable as cheap since the player is questionable in the first place. If the hit came from a player of value or credibility, there would be no discussion. However, since Orpik is neither a player of skill, talent or respect, the jury is out.

Also, kudos to the Pittsburgh fans cheering Toews as he was injured skating to the bench. Stay classy Pittsburgh

Hockeyfan - Mar 31, 2014 at 5:48 AM

I disagree with the ascertain that the Pens fans were cheering to celebrate Toews being injured. In fact it was the opposite, more about him skating off on his own. Plus, there was a good number if Blackhawks fans there cheering too.

Hockeyfan - Mar 31, 2014 at 5:53 AM

You had to be there to appreciate that. Been to a lot of games and it is not the culture there to cheer injuries to opposing players.

btpdiddy - Mar 31, 2014 at 9:44 AM

Orpik is neither a player of skill or talent? I bet you those two olympic team appearances and that 2010 silver medal would disagree with that statement.

hawkfan62 - Mar 31, 2014 at 2:16 AM

I watched the game and after seeng the replays I thought the hit on Toews was legal but borderline clean. It seems Orpik has a history of these type of hits where the other player is defenseless and he has a chance of letting up, but instead just unloads with a game ending and/or career ending injury. I don’t have a problem with good hard clean checks, but when a player goes out of his way to injure another player, thats just wrong. I agree that Towes had his head down and reponsibility is on him, but after that hit I was hoping for a hawk player to drop the gloves.

So you are saying that since Toews was taking too long fumbling around with the puck with his head down, trying to get the puck in scoring position, that ORPIK should ease up, not hit him, not do his job as a defender, and allow Toews more time and space to make his move. The onus is on Orpik, in your opinion, to change his job description, because Toews made an error.

I’m so tired of the “he’s trying to hurt people” argument. Orpik is a hitter. He hits. Hard. He doesn’t discriminate. He wants people hearing footsteps. He’s right, those hits happen 10 times a game. It honestly sounds like people want Pittsburgh to be a soft “skill team” and when someone gets popped, everyone whines.

I hope Toews is ok, and is back on the ice after a short break. If I’m Chicago, I take the opportunity to rest him a few.

Orpik targets anyone with the puck, and hits them legally. That’s his job, as a professional, and he’s damn good at it. What do you want him to do to “back up his actions”, seeing as how the RULE BOOK says he’s allowed to do what he does?

i understand milbury got into it with a kid who was involved with one of his own kids … tricky ground when a parent sees their children under threat or bullying … as i recall milbury simply grabbed the other kid by the collar

i’m not sure how progressive the u.s. is in these matters but federal statutes in canada have made striking children with anything including foreign objects a criminal offence … touching or grabbing is verboten

even advocates of spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child philosophies selectively chosen from right wing conservative and fundamentalist religious doctrine have come under the heavy hand of the law …

children have legal recourse in canada and every province has child advocates … the system still fails but usually because of rank incompetencies at play in social service agencies themselves … when the system fails children often die

in my student years i counselled young offenders … i know too well how rotten some kids are … many were simple sociopaths … those were by far a small percentage of kids in care

in my experience parents who hit children as a means of correction always presented as incapable of understanding or applying rational means of correction … they tended to be lazy and were typically uneducated and were often themselves beaten

most came from middle income and up and rarely did they have time for their children … reality therapy and rationalization of the natural consequence takes time and patience and well … who has time for that when a well-timed slap or back-hand will suffice

our work in family therapy was always directed at personal accountability … more often than not the effort was directed at the adults

i’ve also been involved with children outside care who were subject to corporal punishment … in schools and at home and in hockey … i once saw a parent pick his kid up and throw him across the locker room and against a cinder-block wall

i’ve yet to come across any children or adult who benefitted from application of physical force … the scars follow them all their lives … they often hate those who did the beating … they all talk about humiliation and being shamed and disempowered

the oft-repeated and insidious mantras claiming children become better citizens under threat of force is espoused by those doing the beating … a means to rationalize savagery and barbarism … they’re becoming anachronism

milbury would have been better off letting his kid square accounts on the ice … watching the contemporary game it’s apparent savagery and barbarism in hockey is sheltered from federal statute so he’d have found relief from public opinion offered in these pages if the matter with his kid had been resolved in-game

on one hand we are lead to believe brooks orpik is a clean player delivering crushing body and head-wracking injuries to vulnerable players but mike milbury, who called him out, is a child beater by virtue of having grabbed a kid by the collar

just watch nhl hockey on any given night … the last refuge of bludgeoning violence and head-bashing thuggery … sanctuary of the sunday savage … don’t like it maybe cut back on the estrogen wot

keep your head up or you’ll get trashed by a talentless ape … it’s part of the game … it’s fertile ground for hypocrites and hypocritical rationalization … it’s

hockey

blackhawksdynasty - Mar 31, 2014 at 12:56 PM

Good stuff, muckle.

I appreciate your background and insight. Sad that so many kids are subject to violent punishment and potentially permanent scars – both physical and mental.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by great parents who never laid a hand on me (not that I didn’t deserve it on a few occasions). And, as such, I have never (nor will I ever) used physical means as punishment for my own child.